The eighth millionaire pacer to win the New Zealand Cup, Just An Excuse (“Lordie”) was a winner on both sides of the Tasman. One of just fourteen horses to have twice won NZ’s most prestigious race for pacers (2003, 2004) while placing third in the 2005 edition. The three, three time winners are all inductees of the Addington Harness Hall Of Fame – namely Indianapolis, False Step and Terror To Love.
Just An Excuse sired by first season Die Laughing stallion, Live Or Die (1:51.4US) was the sixth foal from the race winning mare My Excuse (Smooth Fella/Good Excuse), 2:03.7, bred by John Curtin and Sandy Yarndley. This is the NZ family of Millie C which has left four NZ Cup winners to date – being Marlene, Thunder, Just An Excuse twice.
My Excuse the dam of eight winners (third dam of Bettor Enforce 1:48.9) for breeders Ollie and Irene Haines – two winners bred in conjunction with Ricky and Janet Larsen. Owner-breeder Ollie Haines once described My Excuse as a “bl…y nutter”. Haines, an administrator, owner, breeder also a steward, committee member, vice President and President for three years at Cambridge Raceway and part of the Harness Racing New Zealand Executive for nearly a decade. The Haines had previously raced classy filly Smooth Performer winner of NZ/Waikato Oaks, Nevele R Fillies and Ladyship Stakes.
Key facts concerning Just An Excuse’s career:
- Winner of sixteen races and placed on fourteen occasions in NZ (from thirty five starts), four wins at Addington (nine Alexandra Park, three Cambridge), $944,068, 1:55.6NZ; one win (Ballarat) and once placed from four races in Australia, A$91,000, 2:02.5AUS; millionaire, total earnings of $1,035,068 accumulated over five seasons of racing
- Leading 4yo H&G pacing stake earner for 2002/03 ($197,597)
- Leading 5yo+ H&G pacing stake earner for 2003/04 ($274,222)
- Eleventh (of thirteen) dual winners of NZ Cup in alphabetical order - Ahuriri, Flashing Red, Harold Logan, Haughty, Highland Fling, Il Vicolo, Just An Excuse, Lazarus, Lordship, Lucky Jack, Peter Bingen, Reta Peter, Wildwood Junior
- First NZ Cup/FFA double in same year (2004) since Christian Cullen in 1998 and twenty seventh since it was first achieved in 1918 by Author Dillon. Others were Peter Bingen (1928), Harold Logan (1931), Red Shadow (1933), Indianapolis (1935), Josedale Grattan (1941), Highland Fling (1948), Johnny Globe (1954), Lookaway (1957), False Step (1960), Lordship (1962), Cardigan Bay (1963), Robalan (1974), Lunar Chance (1975), Trusty Scott (1978), Lord Module (1979), Hands Down (1980), Armalight (1981), Bonnie's Chance (1982), Master Mood (1986), Christopher Vance (1991), Blossom Lady (1992), Chokin (1993), Bee Bee Cee (1994), Il Vicolo (1995) and Christian Cullen (1998). Since Just An Excuse only Monkey King (2009, 2010), and Lazarus (2017) have completed the double
- NZ Cup sequence:
- at 5 : 2003 defeated Elsu and Jack Cade
- at 6 : 2004 defeated Elsu and Howard Bromac
- at 7 : 2005 third to Mainland Banner and Alta Serena
- Five Group One’s, two Group Two’s and two Group Three’s (including Ballarat Cup in Australia) plus Listed race
- Four year old entire or gelding of year, Aged entire or gelding of year
- NZ Trotting Hall Of Fame inductee
As a four year old (2002/3), his record read 10 : 7-2-1, $197,597, 1:55.6, career best mile rate in Taylor Mile. Unbeaten until his seventh career start when second in the Kumeu Stakes. His wins were recorded at Alexandra Park (four including Messenger, Taylor Mile), Addington (one, Superstars Championship in race record time, 3:15.1, 2600m stand off 20m) and Cambridge (two including Te Awamutu Cup). Major placings included seconds in Kumeu Stakes and Cambridge Elliott Futurity.
At five Just An Excuse continued his successful career with NZ seasonal stats (2003/4) of 6 : 2-1-3, $274,222, 4:05.7/2:03.5 (3200m stand, NZ Cup). Wins included his first New Zealand Cup, the one hundredth running, Centennial NZ Cup at Addington when starting favourite and the Spring Cup at Alexandra Park. Among his placings were a second in Elsu’s Auckland Cup and thirds in North Shore City Stakes and Ashburton Flying Stakes. His Australian season consisted of three starts with a seventh in the 2003 Miracle Mile, win in Group Three 2004 Ballarat Cup and twelfth in the Hunter Cup; 3 : 1-0-0, $63,500, 2:02.5AUS.
As a six year old (2004/5) his seasonal stats in NZ were 9 : 4-0-3, $409,079, 1:56.5 (2000mM). Early in the season he won the North Shore City Stakes at Alexandra Park while his second Auckland success came in an ID Pacers heat during the 2005 ID carnival. Running third in the two remaining heats before placing third to Elsu in the Pacing Grand Final. His dual Addington victories included his second NZ Cup off 10m in 4:01.2/2:01.2 (3200m stand) when third favourite off a limited, injury plagued campaign and victory in the NZFFA in a seasons best mile rate of 1:56.5. This gave Just An Excuse the converted NZ Cup/FFA double and together with his earlier Cup Trial he had recorded three good runs in the space of nine days. After the NZ Cup carnival, just An Excuse had his lone seasonal start in Australia finishing third to Sokyola in the Victoria Cup; 1 : 0-0-1, $27,500.
As a seven year old In his final season, Just An Excuse was a non-winner but recorded four placings from his seven starts; 7 : 0-1-3, $52,340. Placed second in the Spring Cup with thirds in North Shore Stakes, Addington double of NZ Cup behind Mainland Banner when attempting a third consecutive victory and to Howard Bromac in NZFFA while finishing fourth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes and seventh in his last race at Alexandra Park in the Summer Cup. Combined Australasian career stats showed 39 starts, 17-4-11, $1,035,068, 1:55.6NZ. Just An Excuse’s retirement came to a premature end when he suffered a paddock injury breaking his leg and being put down in June 2008.
September 2022